Clamp fixture
First Claim
1. A clamp fixture for supporting a medical instrument or the like in a selected orientation relative to a selected support structure, said clamp fixture comprising:
- a base bracket including means for locking said base bracket onto a selected support structure extending generally along a first axis;
means for preventing the unauthorized removal of said base bracket from a selected support structure;
a U-shaped frame member mounted at the base of the U to said base bracket for rotation with respect to said base bracket about a second axis oriented generally perpendicular to said first axis;
first releasable lock means for locking said U-frame member against rotation about said second axis relative to said base bracket;
means for connecting the arms of said U-shaped frame member to the instrument to permit rotation of the instrument with respect to the arms of said U-shaped frame member about a third axis; and
second releasable lock means for locking the instrument supported by said frame arm against rotation about said third axis in a selected one of as plurality of preselected angular positions relative to the arms of said U-shaped frame member.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved clamp fixture is provided for supporting a medical instrument or the like in a selected orientation relative to a variety of different support structures, such as an upright pole, a tabletop edge, a bed rail, etc. The clamp fixture comprises an open-sided base bracket for receiving the selected support structure to extend through the base bracket along a first axis. A clamp screw is carried by the base bracket and is adjustable to securely retain the support structure against an inner support surface of the base bracket. A frame member is mounted on the base bracket for rotation generally about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, with a spring-loaded lock pin releasably securing the frame member in one of several preset rotational positions. At least one frame arm extends outwardly from the frame member for connection to the medical instrument or the like in a manner permitting rotation of the medical instrument about a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes. A detent lock mechanism cooperates between the instrument and the frame arm to releasably lock the instrument in a selected position of rotational adjustment. In addition, the preferred clamp fixture includes an adjustable clutch mechanism for controlling the clamping force which can be applied by the clamp screw to a support structure, wherein this clutch mechanism can be adjusted by a specialized tool after engaging the support structure to prevent unauthorized removal or theft.
147 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A clamp fixture for supporting a medical instrument or the like in a selected orientation relative to a selected support structure, said clamp fixture comprising:
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a base bracket including means for locking said base bracket onto a selected support structure extending generally along a first axis; means for preventing the unauthorized removal of said base bracket from a selected support structure; a U-shaped frame member mounted at the base of the U to said base bracket for rotation with respect to said base bracket about a second axis oriented generally perpendicular to said first axis; first releasable lock means for locking said U-frame member against rotation about said second axis relative to said base bracket; means for connecting the arms of said U-shaped frame member to the instrument to permit rotation of the instrument with respect to the arms of said U-shaped frame member about a third axis; and second releasable lock means for locking the instrument supported by said frame arm against rotation about said third axis in a selected one of as plurality of preselected angular positions relative to the arms of said U-shaped frame member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A clamp fixture for supporting an instrument or the like in a selected orientation relative to a selected support structure, said clamp fixture comprising:
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a base bracket for receiving a portion of a selected support structure therein; means for clamping said base bracket onto a selected support structure extending generally along a first axis, said clamping means exerting an axial force causing a selected support structure to be gripped between said clamping means and a portion of said base bracket; means for actuating said clamping means, said actuating means being adjustable to modulate the amount of torque transmitted from said actuating means to said clamping means; a U-shaped frame member mounted at the base of the U to said base bracket for rotation with respect to said base bracket about a second axis oriented angularly to said first axis; first releasable lock means for locking said U-shaped frame member against rotation about said second axis relative to said base bracket; means for connecting the arms of said U-shaped frame member to the instrument to permit rotation of the instrument with respect to the arms of said U-shaped frame member about a third axis; and second releasable lock means for locking the instrument supported by said frame arm against rotation about said third axis in a selected one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the arms of said U-shaped frame member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A clamp fixture for supporting an instrument or the like in a selected orientation relative to a selected support structure;
- said clamp fixture comprising;
a generally U-shaped base bracket of open-sided construction and defining an axially open channel extending generally along a first axis, said base bracket including a primary support leg having a first inner support surface defined by an elongated and generally semi-cylindrical recess oriented generally in parallel with said first axis, and a second surface defined by a pair of relatively flat platforms lining the opposite sides of said recesses; a clamp screw carried by said base bracket for movement toward and away from said primary support leg for respectively locking onto and releasing the selected support structure; an adjustment knob carried by said base bracket; a clutch mechanism connected between said adjustment knob and said clamp screw; a generally U-shaped frame member having a central frame bar and a pair of generally parallel frame arms; pivot means for rotatably connecting said central frame bar of said frame member to said base bracket for rotation of said frame member about a second axis oriented generally perpendicular to said first axis; first releasable lock means for releasably locking said frame member against rotation about said second axis in a selected position of rotational adjustment; and detent means carried by said pair of frame arms adapted for connection coaxially to the instrument to permit rotation of the instrument relative to said frame arms about a third axis which may be oriented generally perpendicularly to said first and second axes, said detent means including second releasable lock means for releasably locking the instrument against rotation about said third axis in a selected position of rotational adjustment. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- said clamp fixture comprising;
Specification